Admission Information

Admission to Berea College is academically competitive. We have a limited number of spaces in each year’s entering class, so we are looking for students who have demonstrated academic potential through coursework, grade point average, and ACT or SAT scores if provided. Furthermore, the College restricts admission to students who have not previously earned a Bachelor’s degree.

Most of our students score between 20 and 30 on the ACT (or SAT equivalent) and have a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0 in a strong college prep curriculum. Students may take either the ACT or SAT or apply test-optional.

Although not required, we strongly recommend the following high school curriculum:

High school transcripts and official score reports are required for the evaluation of academic qualifications.

The College’s mission is to serve students of unlimited potential and limited financial means which requires the Office of Admissions to assess an applicant’s financial eligibility. All students are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to complete an application file and students who qualify for the Federal Pell Grant typically meet the College’s financial eligibility requirement. Many factors are considered when determining a student’s financial eligibility, primarily using the FAFSA, but in some cases, a student may be required to submit a Financial Resource Questionnaire, Non-Custodial Financial Questionnaire, Self-Employed/Business Owner Questionnaire, or additional documentation to ultimately determine an applicant’s financial eligibility. Please note, determining financial eligibility is an assessment within the Office of Admissions, and determining financial aid offers is a function of Student Financial Aid Services. However, information provided during the admissions process may be used to guide professional judgments, resolve conflicting information and finalize financial aid offers if admitted.

We provide a Financial Eligibility Quick Estimator to help applicants and families determine if they will meet the College’s financial eligibility requirement. We highly recommend using the estimator before a student applies or visits campus. Please note this tool is designed to provide only a preliminary estimate of likelihood to qualify based upon limited information.

Also, if your family has encountered special circumstances (divorce, death of wage earner, etc.) your financial eligibility should be considered on an individual basis. If you have any questions or are experiencing technical difficulties, please contact us during business hours at 1-800-326-5948.

Disclaimer

Final determination of financial aid and eligibility for Berea College can be made only via the submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and as requested, Berea’s Financial Resource Questionnaire (FRQ). This form is not applicable to International Students.

If you have any technical difficulties, please contact us at 1-800-326-5948.

Berea College is unique in American higher education. Our vibrant and diverse community derives from our mission and scriptural motto ‘God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth’ (Acts 17:26). It has been both the foundation on which we stand and shining light that guides us to a more perfect future.

Our mission and size are such that we can consider every aspect of each prospective student’s personal journey, their perseverance, their commitment, and ability to take advantage of every opportunity that Berea can offer. When we review your application, we’ll consider more than just numbers on a piece of paper—we will consider the person you are and hope to become. 

You can count on our team of dedicated professionals to complete a holistic review of each applicant. Many factors are considered in the selection of an applicant, including a properly completed application, official academic records, test scores (if submitted), and financial eligibility. In addition to these components, we value and assess recommendations, Admissions Counselor conversations, extracurricular and co-curricular activities (e.g. music ensembles, athletics, theatre), community service, character and leadership qualities, social maturity and demonstrated interest in the College.

We encourage all students to, as appropriate, use their resources in brainstorming, proofreading and editing their optional electives. Optional electives are evaluated based upon their content and minor grammatical errors will not be penalized.  The optional electives should help us better understand the applicant as an individual, so use of outside resources should not distract from a submitted elective that displays the student's authentic voice. 

Berea College operates as rolling admissions; however, interested students are strongly encouraged to apply early and meet Early Action deadlines. The College maintains an open admissions policy for all applicants and considers students regardless of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.

Please be aware that we do not offer or accept any bribe, reward, or remuneration to influence an admissions decision, housing, scholarship, or financial aid. In addition, the Admissions staff are salaried employees and do not receive bonuses or commissions.